Universal Responds To Complaints About Pruned Trees On Barham Boulevard: “Not Our Intent …To Create Unintended Challenges For Demonstrators”

deadline.com:

A row of previously bushy Ficus trees on Barham Boulevard that were inexplicably pruned over the hot weekend has only heightened the frustration of WGA strikers at Universal — especially since construction on the Lankershim Boulevard side has made it challenging to walk the picket line.

On Monday, strikers who chose to walk the line outside of Gate 8 were surprised to see how the parkland trees next to the gate, which previously offered a shady respite to protesters, were completely cut back.

Pine trees on the opposite side of Barham weren’t touched, as were a row of pepper trees behind the fence near the production gate. “It’s just been very frustrating, trying to get people to come out here and picket these gates,” admits on-site picketer Deric A.

Hughes, a co-executive producer on Quantum Leap who is also on the WGA Board of Directors. “It’s just very suspect. If this was done by the city, why didn’t they trim the trees on that side? [He points across Barham].”Quick shoutout to the good people at @UniversalPics for trimming the trees that gave our picket line shade right before a 90+ degree week.